The live export of farm animals for slaughter and fattening causes significant welfare harm through long journey times, inadequate vehicle standards, and poor conditions at destination.
Live export for slaughter combines multiple welfare harms: long confinement in vehicles, inadequate space and ventilation, mixing of unfamiliar animals, limited water and food access, and the stress of unloading and reloading at borders. The welfare case for banning live export for slaughter is strong — chilled meat can be transported instead, achieving the same trade objectives without live animal welfare costs. The UK government has consulted on such a ban; EU member states face ongoing pressure to enforce journey time limits and conditions. The welfare argument against live export is primarily about journey conditions rather than slaughter welfare at destination, though both are relevant.